At‑a‑Glance
Zoning ordinance exploration begins — public hearing targeted for September, potential Council action in October.
Emergency preparedness equipment purchase authorized up to $10,000 (prioritized list pending).
Meetings moving from Zoom → YouTube Live for easier access; public‑comment flow to be finalized.
Community Center feasibility effort launched (small office/activity space concept; committee formed; public input planned).
Service Spotlight: James W. “Jim” Vick honored for distinguished service to POA and City.
Finance (July): Expenses $56,000; Income $40,000; reconciling an ~$18,000 cash discrepancy (conversion related). Report approved.
Elections: 3 seats on November ballot. File in person with Angie by Monday, Aug 18 at 5:00 PM.
Service Spotlight: James W. “Jim” Vic
Council began by recognizing James W. “Jim” Vick for his years of service — POA board (4 years; 3 as President starting in 2018) and City Council (2 years; elected 2022, served as Secretary).
Impact highlights: road resurfacing; gate infrastructure upgrades; greenbelt refresh; park upgrade efforts; storm remediation; and advocacy work supporting recovery from addiction and at‑risk students.
“The Village of The Hills council does hereby proclaim its appreciation and gratitude for James W. ‘Jim’ Vick in recognition of his service to the Village of The Hills and its citizens in a collaborative, strategic, and professional manner.” — Mayor (reading proclamation)
“Jim welcomed me onto the council… I always appreciated his clarity of thought and dedication to our community’s best interests.” — Council Member Lee Crawford
Department & Liaison Notes
Law Enforcement: 101 incident reports; 160 community contacts. Council requested future details on two fraud complaints.
Parks & Recreation: Piloting area‑steward “captains” (dog park, landscaping, trails, pavilion, playground). Movie Night: Sun, Sept 21 (National Ice Cream Cone Day). Club engagement outreach with Andrea & Jessica.
POA Liaison: Assessment reminders (due June 30). Gate keypads (EMS access) — estimates pending.
MUD Liaison: Meter box safety reminders. Flood access to wastewater plant via SCADA/golf course. Drought watering: now 2 days/week. Budget slated for approval next Monday; tax rate expected to remain the same or slightly lower. Generator to be located behind the building.
Welcome Committee: Month three of calls to new move‑ins; exploring a quarterly mixer/happy hour. Welcome handout and basket in progress.
City Administrator: All rust‑prone steel dog‑waste stations replaced (10‑year guarantee). Bag disappearance at park station noted.
Youth Advisory Commission: Only two students expressed interest so far. Council will recruit for one more month; if minimum isn’t met, program may pause to rework.
Mayor’s Brief:
Google Fiber: Company is still evaluating a clean, cost‑effective build; Lakeway and Bee Cave have ROW agreements but no construction timeline yet. POA has signed right‑of‑entry; main hold‑up is on Google.
Main Street Intersection: Target completion June 2026 at the earliest; complications with water districts and developers. No start date yet.
November Election: 3 seats; filing deadline Mon, Aug 18 @ 5:00 PM (in person with Angie).
In Focus: Zoning Ordinance — What It Is & Why It’s on the Table
Presenter: Council Member Lee Crawford
Zoning = City rules for land use (how land can be used) and structures (what can be built), adopted by elected officials to promote health, safety, welfare, and property values.
How Zoning differs from POA Rules
Authority: Zoning is city law; POA standards come from deed restrictions.
Scope: Zoning sets broad districts/uses (single‑family, commercial, open space, municipal); POA governs detailed design (materials, landscaping, lighting, pools, gutters, etc.).
Enforcement: City can use misdemeanor penalties/injunctions; POA relies on private enforcement.
Why consider it now?
Preserve property values and quiet enjoyment by keeping uses compatible.
Give the community a voice in shaping any future development.
Complement (not replace) POA architectural rules.
Design Principles under discussion
Grandfathering existing, lawful uses (non‑conforming use protection).
Simple permits to minimize admin burden.
Flexibility: process for uses not explicitly listed.
Enforceable and aligned with POA to avoid overlap/conflict.
Council & Legal Discussion
Question (Marty): Is zoning necessary given the POA, or just added bureaucracy?
City Attorney: Zoning provides stronger, clearer enforcement and standing in court, including easier injunctions; serves as an extra, more effective layer alongside deed restrictions.
History (Greg): Prior concerns about redundant permits and need for a certified code enforcement officer; Angie is certified.
POA Collaboration: Small council committee will engage POA to ensure alignment.
Tentative Timeline:
Aug: Executive session with City Attorney (parameters/process).
Sept: Post materials (slide deck + draft) and hold public hearing.
Oct: Possible Council action.
Safety & Resilience: Emergency Equipment
Background: Long‑standing effort to build a baseline cache.
List (examples): handheld radios; NOAA weather radios; storage solutions; blankets; sleeping mats; other essential supplies. Space constraints noted (e.g., large generators; battery maintenance/charging for radios).
Action: Council approved purchases up to $10,000 after getting a prioritized list from the Emergency Management Coordinator. Angie is authorized to purchase above her usual threshold. Marty offered to help “own” acquisition and maintenance.
Storage/Use: Considering park‑area storage; radios planned for Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Administrator, and security checkpoints. Lakeway Church remains the identified emergency shelter under the tri‑city agreement.
Public Meetings & Access: YouTube Live Coming
Why change? Recent Zoom hacking (Parks & Rec) and reliability issues.
Plan: Move to a YouTube Live city channel for streaming with immediate replay. Public comment will be accommodated via website submissions and/or a dial‑in line; details forthcoming. (City Attorney: municipalities are not required to broadcast meetings; multiple comment mechanisms are permissible.)
Direction: Staff to implement the YouTube transition, set up the channel, and publicize access + comment options.
Grants & External Funding
Travis County HUD Programs (CDBG & HOME): County indicated the Village is eligible, potentially useful for emergency/health‑related needs. Council wants a County representative to brief specifics (service‑area clarity, low‑income housing tie‑ins) before proceeding. Item tabled until then.
Dates, Deadlines & Ways to Plug In
Candidate Filing Deadline: Mon, Aug 18 @ 5:00 PM (in person with Angie). Three seats on the November ballot.
Movie Night in the Park: Sun, Sept 21 (National Ice Cream Cone Day).
Zoning Public Hearing: September Council meeting (date TBA). Draft materials to be posted ahead of time.
MUD Budget Vote: Next Monday (tax rate expected to remain same or slightly lower).
Watering Schedule: 2 days/week under current drought contingency.
Youth Advisory Commission: Recruiting through next month; may pause/retool if minimum interest isn’t met.
Parks “Area Captains”: Volunteer opportunities for stewardship of specific amenities.
How to Participate
Zoning & Community Center: Watch for materials/surveys; send feedback; attend the September hearing and future listening sessions.
Public Comment (Meetings): Use the website form or dial‑in once announced; watch meetings on YouTube Live once the channel is launched.
Volunteer: Parks area captains; Welcome Committee mixer support; Youth Advisory Commission (students).
This recap is based on meeting proceedings and official comments made on August 12, 2025. If you spot an error, reply with corrections so we can update the record.
— The Hills Observer
Karthik Naralasetty (Resident Reporter)